Waterproof cellar



(No Model.) v :Bl GILBRETH- WATERPROOF GELLAR. No. 539,259.. PatentedM-ay 14, 1895. K

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UNITED STATES PATENTv Cerros.

FRANKB. GILBRETH, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

WATERPROOF GELLAR.

SPECIFICATION forming 'part of Letters Patent No. 539,259, dated May 14, 1895.

Application led November 26,1894. kSerial No. 529,991. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern: Be it known that I, FRANK B. GILBRETH, of Brookline, county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Waterproof Cellars, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

This invention relates to waterproof cellars, the object of the invention being to provide a construction, which will render a cellar or basement waterproof without consuming an undesirable amount ofthe cellar space within the main or inclosing walls thereof, and with less constructional material than is now required. v Y

In accordance with my invention the interior surface ofthe inclosing walls ofthe cellar or basement is lined with one or more layers or thicknesses of a water-resisting substance such, for instance, as tarred paper, the same being carried across and upon the surface of the cellar bottom, the joints between the strips of the several layers being broken to provide a substantially waterproof lining for the cellar. To support or hold the waterproof lining against the pressure of water in\ the ground, outside the' cellar, Icover the water-resisting substance upon the cellar bottom with a surface coating of concrete, and in or to this concrete I embed or otherwise suitably x the bottoms of a plurality of supports, preferably metallic railroad rails or beams, which rest in contact with and support the waterre sisting substance, the upper ends of said supports being suitably preferably adj ustably secured, to the inclosing walls. Between these supports I arrange a pressure resisting wall preferably a series of arches, of brick, tile, concrete or other suitable material, which, with the thick coating of concrete upon the bottom of the cellar, eectually prevent the outside water-pressure from, in any way, disturbing or breaking the Waterproof lining of the cellar.

In the drawings, Figure l illustrates, in vertical section, one manner of Waterproofing cellars in accordance with my invention; and Fig. 2, a horizontal section of the same, taken on the dotted line a: x.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, A, A, represent in section, two of the inclosing walls of a cellar or basement, and B the gravel or other natural bottom of the cellar. To Water-proof this cellar in, accordance with .my present invention, I first preferably lay upon the rough bottom B Qa layer of boards b, to provide a smooth surface on which maybe Ilaid the one or more thicknesses etlmegmgnsubstance, preferably arre' paper, t e same being care e l s of t `e cellar against the inner faces thereof, as shown. This waterproof substance, when in the form of strips of paper, is preferably laid with broken joints,

f each layer being smeared with pitch or other suitable substance before the next layer is applied, so-that when the several thicknesses are in position a substantially water-tight cellarlining is obtained, this lining at the side being carried above the highest level of the Water outside the cellar and seeking at any time to effect an entrance. While the lining itself may be Water-tight, yet it is usually incapable of resisting outside pressure to any considerable extent. To support this lining against outside pressure, Iihave, in'the construction shown, rst laid upon the bottom portion of the lining, a thick coating d of concrete, which may or may not be stiened at suitable points by metallic stiffeners or girders d. x

Around the sides Iof the cellar I arrange a series of vertical or side supports c, e, of suitable material, shown as of metal in the form of T-iron, saidsupports at their lower ends being suitably held as by embedding them in the concrete d, and resting in contact with and to support the water-resisting substance, the same at their upper ends being held in suitable manner, as kby the hooks f, f, wedged, builtin, or otherwise attached to the inclosing Walls A. In the construction illustrated, these supporting hooks f are provided with set screws f, by means of which the vertical or Vpose of my invention.

The great advantage accruing from the use of my invention Alies in the `factlthatvnot ex-y ceeding six inches on each side of the cellar is required for the construction necessary to render the cellar waterproof, whereas in all constructions, now known to me, used for a similar purpose, one to `three feet are con' sumed, which, in a small cellar lled with chimneys, piers, &c., renders the cellanof little use, especially when the buildings are highingly thinner, yet the said girders may beV omitted, and a solid bedof `concrete alone depended upon to prevent the lining at the bottom of the cellar from bulging upwardly under the action of the outside pressure.

I prefer to arrange the arches h vertical in the manner shown, though my Iinventionis not restricted tosuch arrangement nor to any particular construction of arches,ifor the latter may be arranged and constructed tin any suitable or `desired manner `to eect thepur- The supports also are best arrangedas shown, although my invention is not limited to-such `exact arrangement or construction.

Having described my invention, and without limiting myself as to'details, what Iclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, issl. The herein described waterproof cellar, the sameconsisting of an .inclosing wall; one or more :layers of water-resisting substance within the said wall and on the cellar bottom; separated supports in contact withand to hold said water -resisting substance in position against the said wall, and forming pockets between them; and independent reinforcing and pressure-resisting arches in the respective pockets,` and extending between adjacent supports, whereby any single arch or portion thereof maybe removed without removing the end support for an adjacent arch, and Without removing the supporting arches for the waterresisting substance in adjacent pockets, substantially as described.

2. The herein `described waterproof cellar, the same consisting of an inclosing wall, one or more layers of water-resisting substance at theinside of said walland upon thecellarbottom; a plurality of metallic supporting beams supported at their ends,a pressure-resisting filling held by said supporting beams `to hold the said water-resisting substance against the outsidepressure of water seeking to effectentrance into the cellar, and adjusting devices for and furnishing meanslby which the upper 

